Monday 7th February (Wind and Rain)

Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window to see the orange street light shining brightly against a dark cloud. Once again the wind was blowing and it was raining. Mr. Kite had a lazy morning reading.

At midday Mr. Kite rode out on the beast towards Monkmoor Lagoon. Now he could have cycled to Venus Pool, Polemere, Wood Lane, Wall Farm or Haughmond but the strong wind made his choice easy; who wants to cycle for miles with branch's falling from the trees and crashing to the ground.

The lagoon was as choppy as the Bay of Biscay in a storm and the ducks were bobbing about riding the white horses. Wave after wave travelled across the water until reaching the bank and fading out. Mallards, Teals and Shoveler rode the undulating waves whilst the Pochard and Tufted Duck dived under the surface to feed. Canadian Geese did neither; they sheltered close to the side of an island in the calm water.

In the air the birds battled with the elements. Magpies hurtled undignified through the air blown by the wind. They twisted and banked steeply until turning into the wind to regain control and glide onto a perch; a case of flying by the seat of their pants. Carrion Crow's flew low hedge-hopping into the wind climbing to clear bushes and trees. They flapped their wings every few seconds before tucking them close to their body to minimise resistance and glided before more flapping. Every yard was measured and required power and control.

Jackdaws seemed to be enjoying the wind the most. With the wind behind them they were blown across the sky then regaining control they turned into the wind and soared upwards climbing one hundred feet in seconds. Once straight and level they chattered before using their height to glide into the wind before repeating the process. This was flying for fun; equivalent to the hand-glider pilot leaping from a hill side.

After a few hours of bird watching Mr. Kite cycled home into the wind. Every yard was an effort; the wind was relentless as it tried to push him back to the lagoon. Fifteen minutes later Mr. Kite was enjoying a tipple of Tetley tea. Cha from a wind swept Shrewsbury.